Electric heating unit



J. M ORLLY ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT May 1, 1951 Filed Feb. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOSEPH M ORLLY INVENTOR y m ww ww ATTORNEYS y 1951 J. MOORLLY 2,550,843

ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT Filed Feb. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 1 46 F s 3 1 "5. 4.

101 JOSEPH W- ORLLY INVENTQR ATTORNEYS Patented May 1, 1951 ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT Joseph McOrlly, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to EtL win L. Wiegand Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 12, 1345, Serial No. 577,521

2 Claims.

My invention relates to electric heating units, and has particular application to electric heating units of the type used on electric ranges and electric hot plates, herein referred to as electric range units, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved electric heatin unit of this type.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of this illustrative embodiment,

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the terminal block, on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing an alternative arrangement of connections,

Figure 5 is a further View similar to Figure 3 showing a further arrangement of connections, and- Fi ure 6 is a view showing the frame and heating element assembly displaced to permit removal r of the reflector.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed comprises a supporting ring it constructed and arranged to carry a reflector and a heating element assembly 25, the latter comprising a frame 30 and two heating elements 45 and 46.

The supporting ring I!) is formed. of a single piece of sheet metal and is U-shape in crosssect-ion comprising an annular top portion H, a relatively long tubular portion l2 depending from the inner margin of the top portion ll and constructed to enter the usual openin in the top of the range or hot plate, and a relatively short skirt l3 depending from the outer margin of the top portion l l and adapted to rest on the margin of the top of the stove or hot plate surrounding the opening in which the tubular portion I2 is received.

The tubular portion l2 of the supporting ring I0 is provided adjacent its lower margin with three struck-in portions I5, and the reflector 20 and heating element assembly are supported by the supporting ring Ill respectively by the margin 2| of the reflector 20 resting on these three struck-in portions 14, and .by the three arms 3l-ab-c of the frame 3!! resting on the margin 2| of the reflector 20 above the struck-in portions M.

The tubular portion l2 of the supporting ring In is provided also with three slot I5 directly above the iree struck-in portions l4, and the refiector 2c and heating element assembly 25 are quick-detaehahly retained in position in the supporting ring 10 by the tips 32 of the arms 3| of the frame snapping into these slots i5 in the tubular portion :2 of the supporting ring [0.

The frame comprises also a further arm 33 extending opposite the arm 31a and is confined to single position relative to the supporting lliig' 18 by engagement of the tips 34 of the bifurcated outer portion 35 of the arm 33 in further slots it provided in the annular portion l2 of the supporting ring l5 intermediate the slots 5 for the tips 32 of the arms 51b and 310.

he electric heating elements and 46 are of the tubular type, each comprising a tubular metallic sheath 41, a helical resistor 48 extending longitudinally of he sheath ll, and refractory material 29 embedding the resistor 48 and serving both to insulate the resistor 48 and also to conduct the heat from the resistor 8 to the sheath 41.

The element 46 is disposed general y surrounding the element 45, to afford a desired distribution of heat, especially when only the element 45 is energized, and the element $5 is provided with downwardly ofiset erminal portions 5| and 52 terminating in terminals 53 and 54, and the element 45 with downwardy offset terminal portions 6! and 52 terminating in terminal 63 and 64.

As shown in Figure 3, the terminals 53-54 and 63-54 enter a terminal block 19 provided with a central recess H in which is disposed a double connector '52 and with two laterally disposed recesses l3 and 74 in which are disposed two single connectors l5 and 15. Leading to the central recess H are two passages ll and 78 through which the one terminal 64 of the element 46 and the one terminal of the element 45, enter and are connected to the double connector block 12, while leading respectively to the laterally disposed recesses i3 and 14 are two passages 1'9 and 80 through which the other terminal 54 of the element .5 and the other terminal G l of the element 46, enter and are secured respectively to the connector blocks 15 and 16.

In the cppo ll--3i the te1m nal block I 3 s 32, and

- provided with through which tor clock l2 connector blocks lo and '55, of the terminals and feed. wires are held in 3 position by clamping screws 84, as is well known in the art.

In the alternate arrangement shown in Figure 4, the terminals 6354 and Eli-64 enter a terminal block 99, provided at one side with a double recess 9| in which is disposed a double connector 92 to which are secured the terminals 53 and 63, provided at the other side with two single recesses 93 and S4 in which are disposed two single connectors 95 and 95 to which are secured the terminals 64 and 54 respectively, and provided in the opposite direction with three passages 97, 93, and 99, through which usual feed wires may be inserted and connected to the double connector 92 and the single connectors 95 and 96 respectively.

However, in the further arrangement shown in Figure 5, designed for two-wire feed, the terminals 5354 and 6364 enter a terminal block I06, provided at one side with a double recess I9! in which is disposed a double connector Hi2 to which are secured the terminals 53 and 56, provided at the other side with another double recess H13 in which is disposed another double connector I94 to which are secured the remaining terminals 54 and 64, and provided in the opposite direction with two passages I65 and I96, through which usual feed wires may be inserted and connected to the two double connectors I62 and 94 respectively.

In any event the element 45 is provided with two depending loops 55 and 56 constructed and arranged to be engaged respectively with a finger 36 on the arm am and with a finger 31 on the further arm 33 and thereby to hold the element 45 inposition on the frame 39. The element 46 is provided with only one depending loop 65, constructed and arranged to be engaged with a second finger 38 on the arm 3Ia of the frame 36, however the terminal portions 6 !-62 of the element 46 closely straddle the bifurcated portion 35 of the further arm 33, and thereby additionally position the element 46 relative to the frame 39.

As appears in the drawings, the finger 39 holding the element 46 extends in the opposite direction from the fingers 36 and 3'! holding the element 45, so that the element 45 is disengageable from the frame 30 by movement relative to the frame 39 in one direction, and the element 46 by movement relative to the frame 39 in the opposite direction.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the terminal portions I-52 and 61-52, and the terminals 5354 and 63-64, of the elements 45 and 46, all are relatively rigid. Therefore when the terminals 53-54 and 6364 are connected in the terminal block 79, 99, or I06, the elements 45 and 46 are effectively held against the movements in opposite directions necessary to disengage either the loops 55 and 56 from the fingers 36 and 37 or the loop 65 from the finger 66, and thereby both of the elements 45 and 46 are secured against detachment from the frame 39. Also the element 46, although secured to the frame 39 at only one place, nevertheless also is held against the frame 36 throughout.

The reflector 29 is provided with a central opening 22 for the discharge of spillage and for ventilation, and with a cut-out 23 for the terminal portions 5l52 and 6|52 of the elements 45 and 46, and is held against angular movement by engagement of the sides 24 of the cut-out 23 with the terminal portions 5l52 of the element 45.

With the above construction, the heating element assembly may be conveniently cleaned, also the reflector, the supporting ring, or both, may be removed for cleaning or replacement, merely by displacing the heating element assembly into approximately the position shown in Figure 4. The heating element assembly may be removed entirely, merely by disconnecting the three feed wires. Or either or both of the elements may be removed from the frame, merely by disconnecting sufiicient of the heating element terminals. And of course by the reverse operations the various parts may be reassembled with equal facility.

From the foregoing it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed provides a new and improved electric heating unit and therefore accomplishes at least the principal object of my invention. On the other hand, it will be obvious also that various modifications and changes may be made, while still retaining some or all of the advantages and benefits, and therefore that the within disclosure is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

Wherefore I claim:

1. An electric range unit comprising a frame and two electric heating elements supported by said frame, said frame and said elements comprising interacting members detachably securing said elements to said frame and permitting de-' tachment of one of said elements on movement relative and approximately parallel to said frame in one direction and detachment of the other of said elements on movement relative and approximately parallel to said frame in a different direction, and means interconnecting said elements releasably preventing said movements.

2. An electric range unit comprising a frame and two electric heating elements supported by said frame, said frame and said elements comprising interacting members detachably securing said elements to said frame and permitting detachment of one of said elements on movement relative and approximately parallel to said frame in one direction and detachment of the other of said elements'on movement relative and approximately parallel to said frame in approximately the opposite direction, and means interconnecting said elements releasably preventing said movements.

JOSEPH MCORLLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 933,622 Caven Sept. 7, 1909 1,597,900 Keene Aug. 31, 1926 2,119,680 Long June 7, 1938 2,180,600 Mills Nov. 21, 1939 2,286,161 Rights et al. June 9, 1942 2,357,150 Vogel Aug. 29, 1944 2,370,767 Backer Mar. 6, 1945 2,413,477 Wiegand Dec. 31, 1946 

